Louisiana driver license and ID card: first license, renewal, replacement and REAL ID

How to get a first Louisiana driver's license through driver education and the TIP, transfer an out-of-state license within 30 days, renew or replace a license online or in person, and get a REAL ID or ID card.

Guide · Louisiana · REAL ID · Driver licenses · Renewals · ID cards · updated October 29, 2026

Louisiana driver's licenses and ID cards are issued by the Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV), part of the Department of Public Safety and Corrections. You can apply at an OMV customer service center. Public Tag Agents can also handle some services, including license renewals and REAL ID. Several services are online, including license renewal, ID card renewal and duplicates. This guide covers each step. For booking and office visits, see Visiting the Louisiana OMV.

Your first license

Driver education and the Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP)

The OMV says all applicants must complete a driver education course. Courses are offered by OMV-licensed driving schools and some secondary schools.

  • Ages 14 years and 9 months to 17: the Driver Education course, with 30 hours of classroom and 8 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction.
  • 18 and older: the Pre-Licensing course, with 6 hours of classroom and 8 hours behind the wheel. Adults may take the 38-hour Driver Education course instead.

Before the knowledge test, on-road instruction or the road skills test, you must get a Class E Temporary Instructional Permit (TIP) from the OMV. You must be at least 14. With a TIP you may drive only with a driver education instructor. When you finish the course, you surrender the TIP to the OMV with your certificate of completion. The OMV says there is no extra cost to convert the TIP to a learner's permit or full license. The OMV's online "DouxWe" tool helps you check whether you need driver education.

The knowledge and road skills tests are given by the driver education provider; the OMV says all road skills tests must be performed at a driving school. You need at least 80% on the knowledge test and 80 on the road skills test, plus 20/40 vision in at least one eye.

Graduated licensing for teens

Applicants aged 15 and 16 must go through the graduated licensing program, starting with a learner's permit.

  • Learner's permit (from age 15): you may drive with a licensed family member aged 18 or older, or any licensed driver over 21. If you get the permit at 15, keep it for at least 180 days and until you turn 16. If you get it at 16, keep it for at least 180 days or until you turn 17.
  • Intermediate license: you can drive with anyone from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., and with one sibling passenger from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. From 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. you must drive with a licensed family member aged 18 or older or a licensed driver over 21.
  • Full license: from age 17, after passing vision, knowledge and road skills tests.

A custodial parent or legal guardian must sign for any applicant 17 or under and show identification. Only the domiciliary parent may sign when there is joint custody.

Fees

The OMV lists a basic license fee of $32.25 until age 69 and $18.75 for applicants 70 and older. Certain field offices may also charge a service fee. The OMV's New Licenses page gives the maximum as $8.00, while its Permits page says up to $6.00. Class E licenses expire on your birthday about six years after issue.

Moving to Louisiana

The OMV says you must transfer your driver's license to Louisiana within 30 days of establishing a domicile in the state. Bring:

  • One primary identity document
  • Your Social Security number
  • Proof of residency
  • Your photo license from your last state, or an official driving record from that state if you don't have a photo license

All documents must be originals or certified copies and show the same name. If your names differ for a reason other than marriage, update the supporting documents first. Your out-of-state license is surrendered when the Louisiana license is issued. If you hold a valid, non-commercial license, you only take a vision test.

Renewing

The OMV says you can renew up to 180 days before your license expires. Qualified drivers receive a renewal invitation about 100 days before the month of expiration. If you do not receive one, you must renew at your local OMV office. Online renewal is listed among the OMV's online services.

To renew, the OMV lists:

  • Proper identification and your Social Security number
  • A vision test
  • Proof of current liability insurance, if applicable
  • Proof of Louisiana residency

The OMV's FAQ says there is a 10-day grace period after expiration when you can renew without extra fees. Students and military members temporarily out of state may qualify for a renewal under conditions listed in the FAQ.

Replacing a lost license

A duplicate license or ID card can be issued if yours is lost, stolen or mutilated. You can request one online, or at an office with proper identification. Adults may not need other ID if the OMV can identify them from its photo records. If your license expires within 90 days, the transaction must be processed as a renewal.

According to the FAQ, if a duplicate ordered online does not arrive, wait 30 days from the application date. Then visit a field office within 60 days of the application to get a replacement at no charge.

Name and address changes

  • Address: the OMV's FAQ says Louisiana law requires you to notify the OMV within 10 days of moving, and you must appear in person. Bring your license, proof of residency and proof of insurance for any vehicle you own. The fee is $17.00, and a local fee of up to $8 may apply. Changing your license address does not change the address on your vehicle registration. See also updating your DMV address after a move.
  • Name: record the change with the Social Security Administration first. Then bring original documents supporting the change, such as a state-certified marriage license, plus your current license, proof of residency and proof of insurance. The fee is $17.00, plus any local fee.

REAL ID

For a first REAL ID license or ID card, the OMV requires proof of:

  • Identity, lawful status and date of birth, such as a valid U.S. passport or a certified U.S. birth certificate
  • Your Social Security number
  • Two proofs of principal residence from separate sources, showing your name and Louisiana street address

The OMV says a REAL ID costs the same as a non-compliant license or ID. Compliant cards have a white star with a gold outline at the top. Use the OMV's online REAL ID Checklist before you go. For more, see REAL ID explained and how to tell if a license is REAL ID.

State ID cards

First-time ID card applicants aged 17 or older can bring any one of these:

  • One primary and two secondary documents, plus proof of residency
  • Two primary documents, plus proof of residency
  • A current Louisiana driver's license

Applicants 16 and under need a parent or legal guardian's signature. The parent or guardian must also present documents. Applicants 15 and younger can choose a 2-year or 4-year card. ID cards can be renewed online, and duplicates can be ordered online.

Sources · checked October 29, 2026

We wrote this summary ourselves from the official pages above on the date shown. Agencies change rules without notice: the official page always wins. DMVorganization.org is independent and not a government agency.

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